Ski boot

ABSTRACT

A ski boot which includes a low cut rigid oxford type lower shell having spaced sidewalls affixed to a sole, a rigid ankle cuff having sidewalls connected together in a spaced relationship with a rear connecting wall and secured to the sidewalls of the lower boot wherein the ankle of the individual using the boot passes through the open front portion of the ankle cuff when the boot is placed onto and removed from the individual&#39;&#39;s foot, and strap means connected to the opposite sidewalls of the ankle cuff across its open front end for securing the individual&#39;&#39;s ankle within the cuff. The sidewalls of the ankle cuff can be connected to the lower boot to pivot back and forth thereon in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the boot and at the natural pivot point of the individual&#39;&#39;s ankle.

United States Patent Dalebout .Oct. 31, 1972 [54] SKI BOOT [72]Inventor: Melvin W. Dalebout, 3661 Ceres Prima'y Examiner patrick LawsonDR, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109 Att0rneyC. Harvey Gold, David V. Traskand William S. Britt [22] Filed: July 16, 1970 Appl. No.: 55,435

Related US. Application Data Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 726,094,May 2, 1968, Pat. No. 3,521,385, Continuation-inpart of Ser. No. 8,547,Feb. 4, 1970.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Lange et al ..36/2.5 AL Werner..36/2.5 AL Lange ..36/2.5 AL Vogel ..36/2.5 AL

[5 7] ABSTRACT A ski boot which includes a low cut rigid oxford typelower shell having spaced sidewalls affixed to a sole, a rigid anklecuff having sidewalls connected together in a spaced relationship with arear connecting wall and secured to the sidewalls'of the lower bootwherein the ankle of the individual using the boot passes through theopen front portion of the ankle cuff when the boot is placed onto andremoved from the individuals foot, and strap means connected to theopposite sidewalls of the ankle cuff across its open front end forsecuring the individuals ankle within the cuff. The sidewalls of theankle cuff can be connected to the lower boot to pivot back and forththereon in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axisof the boot and at the natural pivot point of the individuals ankle.

9 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBcIaI m2 SHEET 1 BF 4 INVENTOR.

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sum 3 or 4 I NVENTOR.

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Melvin W. Dalebout His Attorney SKI BOOT RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONSThis application is a continuation in part of my copending U.S. Pat.Application, Ser. No. 726,094, filed May 2, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No.3,521,385 and my copending U.S. Pat. Application, Ser. No. 8,547, filedFeb. 4, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A boot which is used for skiing is generallydesigned to support the users foot and ankle against undesirablemovement. To accomplish this the boot is generally constructed from aheavy leather or resin material. However, because of the boots heavyconstruction some desirable foot movement is restricted. Attempts havebeen made to overcome this problem by constructing the boot with apivotally mounted ankle cuff which allows its user to easily tilt hisankle forward and backwards. For example, in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,385,a ski boot is described which includes a low cut oxford type lower boothaving an ankle cuff affixed thereon to pivot back and forth in adirection substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lowerboot. However, in order to obtain access to the boot the ankle cuff mustbe broken apart by releasing at least a portion of the pivotingstructure from its connection to the lower boot. It is desirable toprovide a rigid ski boot with a pivoted ankle cuff which does notrequire a portion of the cuff to be detached from its operative positionwhen the boot is positioned on or removed from an individuals foot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its broadest form, the invention relates toa boot for supporting the foot and ankle of an individual whichcomprises a substantially rigid lower boot shell having first and secondspaced sidewalls each connected to a boot sole; a substantially rigidankle cuff having first and second sidewalls connected together in afixed spaced relationship with a rear connecting wall, said first andsecond sidewalls'of the ankle cuff being connected to the first andsecond sidewalls respectively of the lower boot shell such that thefront portion of the ankle cuff is open to receive the ankle of saidindividual when the individuals foot is passed into and out of the lowerboot shell; and strap means connected to the opposite sidewalls of theankle cuff across the open front end of the cuff for securing theindividuals ankle within the ankle cuff.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sidewalls of the anklecuff are connected to the sidewalls of the lower boot to pivot back andforth at the natural pivot point of the individuals ankle in a directionsubstantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lower bootshell.

In another embodiment of the invention biasing means are affixed to therear connecting wall of the ankle cuff and to the heel end of the lowershell for urging the ankle cuff to a predetemiined static position onthe sidewalls of the lower boot.

In another embodiment of the invention the instep portion of the lowerboot shell is open for placement of the foot therethrough.

In still another embodiment of the invention an inner boot is providedwithin the lower boot and the ankle cuff for retaining the individual sfoot snugly therein.

In still yet another embodiment of the invention, flaps are secured onthe lower shell for covering the open instep portion of the shell andfor controlling the pressure of the inner boot on the individual s foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS So that the invention may be morereadily understood and carried into effect, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which are offered by way of example only and arenot to be taken as limiting the invention, the scope of which is definedby the appended claims which are intended to embrace equivalentstructures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ski boot of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the ski boot showing the front retention strapin a closed position.

FIG. 3 is a plan elevation view of the low cut oxford type lower bootshell.

FIG. 4 isa top view of the lower boot shell.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the preferred ankle cuff of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken in the plane of line 6-6 ofFIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a plan elevation interior view of the preferred ankle cuffconnecting means of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line 88 of FIG. 10looking in the direction of the arrows and also a portion of a sectionalview of the heel end of the lower shell.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a modified ankle cuff of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the ankle cufi' shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a modified ankle cuff. FIG. 12 is a sectionalview taken in the plane of line 12--12 of FIG. 7 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 13-13 of FIG. 7looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 14-14 of FIG. 7looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawings there is shown a ski boot which includes a low cutoxford type lower shell 10 having upwardly extending sidewalls 12attached to the boots bottom sole 14 and an upper shell in the form ofan ankle cuff 16 sized to fit around and support the sides and rearportion of the ankle of an individual using the boot. The oxford shell10 and ankle cuff 16 are constructed from a substantially rigid materialsuch as metal, e.g., steel, aluminum, magnesium, etc'., resin, fiberglass, etc. The ankle cuff 16 is preferably secured to the sidewalls ofthe oxford boot 10 with connecting means, hereinafter described, whichallow the cuff to pivot back and forth on the top edge of lower shellsidewalls 12 in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinalaxis of said lower shell. In addition the ankle cuff preferably pivotsat the natural pivot point of the individuals ankle which is back andbelow the ankle bone protrusion of the foot. Biasing means 18, alsofurther described herein, are attached to the rear end 26 of the anklecufi 16 and to the heel end 22 of the oxford shell 10 for urging thecuff to a predetermined static position on said shell 10.

An inner boot of the type described in my co-pending application, Ser.No. 8,547, filed Feb. 4, 1970, is preferably positioned within the lowershell 10 and in the ankle cuff 16 for fitting the boot of this inventionto the foot and ankle of an individual and for preventing water leakagebetween the lower shell and the ankle cuff. Flaps 24 and 26 with buckleconnector 28, and adjustable strap 30, all hereinafter described, areused to secure the foot within the boot and to control the pressure ofthe inner boot on the individual foot.

In the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2 and illustrate one preferred from the anklecuff 16 of this invention, and FIGS. 9, and 11 illustrate a modifiedform of the cuff particularly suited for racing purposes. As shown, theankle cuff is a substantially rigid U-shaped member secured to the lowerboot shell 10 such that the opening in the cuff is proximately facingthe front toe 11 of lower shell 10, and is sized to pass an individual sankle therethrough when the boot is placed on and removed from saidindividuals foot. The encircling sidewalls 32 and rear connecting wall34 of the ankle cuff are upwardly extending members used to support theankle. The height of the side and rear walls 32 and 34 determines theamount of support obtained from the ankle cuff. For example, when theboot is used for racing purposes the sidewalls and rear wall can extendto a position proximate the lower calf of the individuals leg. Thisenables the skier to sit back on his skis while still being supported bythe ankle cuff. Preferably, a rear support strap 36, constructed from amaterial more flexible than the rigid ankle cuff material such asleather, rubber, a flexible resin, etc., is affixed to the oppositesidewalls 32 of the cuff 16 above rear wall 34 such that strap 36contacts the skiers leg proximate his lower calf.

when an individuals foot and ankle are properly positioned within theboots lower shell 10 and ankle cufi 16 the foot and ankle are securedwithin the boot with front strap 30 which is fixedly secured proximateone end to one of the cuffs sidewalls 32 and adjustably securedproximate its other end to the opposite sidewall of the cufi' withsuitable connecting means such as buckle 38 which coacts with aretention loop 40 secured to the free end of said strap 30. Preferably,front strap 30 is constructed from a flexible material similar to rearstrap 36 so that it can be easily swung away from the front opening ofthe ankle cut? 16. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, -a port 42 ispreferably provided in the cuff sidewall 32 to which buckle 38 isconnected which is sized to receive the free end of strap 30 so that thesaid strap can be tightened across the open interior of ankle cuff 16.

As indicated, it is preferred that the ankle cuff be connected to lowerboot shell 10 so that said cuff will pivot or rock back and forth on thelower shell in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinalaxis YY of the shell. While any type of pivot connection means can beused for this purpose, it is preferred to use connection means whichminimize lateral cuff movement as it pivots back and forth on the lowershell. One structure particularly suited for accomplishing this purposeis best illustrated in FIGS. 7, 12, 13 and 14. As shown, a mating flange42 is secured to sidewall 12 of lower shell 10 at a position spacedapart therefrom a sufficient distance to receive the locking end 50 ofmating flange 48 which in turn is attached to cuff sidewall 32 to matewith the outside face of flange 42. Cuff sidewall 32 is shaped toreceive flange 42 between it and flange 48. Each of the top edges of thelower shells sidewalls 12 have an integrally formed pin 46 that acts asthe pivot point of the cuff 16 on lower shell 10. Pin 46 is positionedso that the pivoting movement of cuff 16 approximates the naturalpivoting movement of the ankle, i.e., the pivot point of the ankle whichis back and below the ankle bone protrusion of the individuals foot. Adetent opening 44 is formed in the bottom edge of cuff sidewall 32 toride on pin 46 and hold cuff 16 in a longitudinally fixed position onlower shell 10. Accordingly, the lower edge of cuff 16 is supported oneach of the pins 46 as it rocks back and forth thereon and lateralmovement is prevented by the coaction between flanges 42, flanges 48,locking ends 50, cuff sidewalls 32, and lower shell sidewalls 12. It isto be noted that the connecting structure herein described equallyprevents lateral ankle cuff movement at any cuff angle with respect tolower shell 10 because of mating flange construction of the structure.In actual operation, as shown in FIGS. 7, 12, 13 and 14, flanges 42 areconnected to lower shell sidewalls 12 and mate with the inside facesflanges 48, connected to ankle cuff sidewalls 32, and also with theoutside faces of said sidewall 32. Additionally, locking ends 50 offlanges 48 mate with the inside faces of flanges 42 and the outsidefaces of sidewalls 12.

Preferably, the ankle cuff 16 is held in a predetermined uprightposition on lower shell 10 except when a pivoting force is applied tothe cuff by the skier by bending his ankles forward. For this reason theend wall 34 of the cuff 16 is connected with biasing means to the lowershells heel end 22. As shown in FIG. 8, threaded rod 52 is spring loadedin-housing S4 for this purpose. An enlarged head end 56 is connected toone end of rod 52 to coact with the heel end 22 of lower shell 10. A nut58 is attached to the opposite end of said rod 52 for adjusting thepressure on spring 58 which coacts between said nut 58 and a lip 60formed at the bottom end of housing 54. When the cufi is pivoted forwardspring 58 is compressed which urges the cuff back to its normal uprightposition when the pivoting force is withdrawn. The force required topivot the cuff can, as indicated, be modified by adjusting the positionof nut 58 on rod 52.

Flexible flaps 24 and 26 are secured to the sidewalls of lower shell 10which cover the instep portion of the shell so that access can beobtained to the interior of lower boot 10. The flaps overlap each otherand are interconnected together with buckle 28, connected to flap 24,and loop connector 64 which coacts with pin 66 attached to flap 26. Inaddition to allowing access to the interior of the boot, flaps 24 and 26are used to adjust the pressure of the inner boot on the instep portionof the foot. Preferably, flaps 24 and 26 are constructed from a flexiblematerial such as leather, rubber, plastic, or the like.

each of the sidewalls of said ankle cuff pivots back and forth at apredetermined fixed pivot point on the upper edge of the sidewalls ofsaid lower boot shell.

The boot of this invention is fitted to an individuals foot by firstreleasing buckle 38 so that the strap 30 can be pulled away from theankle cuffs open front end and buckle 28 so that flaps 24 and 26 can beopened. An inner boot of the type herein described is positioned 5within the lower shell and ankle cufl' 16 and the person being fittedplaces his foot within the inner boot. When thus positioned, strap 30 iswrapped around the front portion of the individuals ankle, passedthrough port 32, and fixedly secured with buckle 38 so that a desiredpressureis applied to the individuals ankle. Finally, flaps 24 and 26are secured together with buckle 28 as herein described.

What is claimed is:

l. A boot for supporting the foot and ankle of an individual whichcomprises:

a substantially rigid lower boot shell having first and second spacedsidewalls each connected to a boot sole;

a substantially rigid ankle cufl having corresponding first and secondsidewalls fixedly connected together in a spaced relationship with arear connecting wall and pivotally connected to the first and secondsidewalls, respectively, of said lower boot shell by means including atleast one boot flange connected to each of the said sidewalls of saidlower boot shell and at least one cuff flange connected to each of thesaid sidewalls of the said ankle cuff to mate with one face of thecorresponding boot flange, each of the named cuff 30 flanges including alocking end which mates with the face of the corresponding boot flangeopposite the said one face.

2. The boot of claim 1 wherein the lower edge of 3. The boot of claim 2wherein said fixed pivot point is positioned at the natural pivot pointof said individuals ankle.

4O 4. A boot for supporting the foot and ankle of an individual whichcomprises:

. a substantially rigid ankle cuff having corresponding first and secondsidewalls fixedly connected together in a spaced relationship with arear connecting wall and pivotally connected to the first and secondsidewalls respectively of said lower boot shell such that saidindividuals ankle passes through the open front portion of said anklecuff when the boot is placed onto and removed from said individual sfoot; and

an elongated flexible strap fixedly connected at one end to one of saidsidewalls of said ankle cuff and adjustably connected through an openingin the opposite sidewall of said ankle cuff to said opposite sidewallfor securing said individual s ankle within said ankle cuff.

5. The boot of claim 4 wherein the sidewalls of said ankle cuff extendupwardly to a position proximate the lower calf of the individuals legand rear support means are connected to said sidewalls of said anklecuff proximate the lower calf of said individual s leg for sup- $iififfi f claim 4 wherein biasing means are affixed to the rear connectingwall of said ankle cuff and to the heel end of said lower boot shell forurging said ankle cuff to a predetermined position on said lower bootshell.

7. In a boot for supporting the foot and ankle of an individual,including a lower boot shell having first and second spaced sidewallsand an ankle cufi having corresponding first and second sidewalls, theimprovement comprising means including at least one boot flangeconnected to each of the said sidewalls of said lower boot shell and atleast one cuff flange connected to each of the said sidewalls of thesaid ankle cuff to mate with one face of the corresponding boot flange,each of the named cuff flanges including a locking end which mates withthe face of the corresponding boot flange opposite the said one face.

8. The improvement of claim 7, wherein the lower edge of each of thesidewalls of said ankle cuff pivots back and forth at a predeterminedfixed point on the upper edge of the corresponding sidewall of saidlower boot shell.

9. The boot of claim 8 wherein said fixed pivot point is positioned atthe natural pivot point of said individuals ankle.

1. A boot for supporting the foot and ankle of an individual whichcomprises: a substantially rigid lower boot shell having first andsecond spaced sidewalls each connected to a boot sole; a substantiallyrigid ankle cuff having corresponding first and second sidewalls fixedlyconnected together in a spaced relationship with a rear connecting walland pivotally connected to the first and second sidewalls, respectively,of said lower boot shell by means including at least one boot flangeconnected to each of the said sidewalls of said lower boot shell and atleast one cuff flange connected to each of the said sidewalls of thesaid ankle cuff to mate with one face of the corresponding boot flange,each of the named cuff flanges including a locking end which mates withthe face of thE corresponding boot flange opposite the said one face. 2.The boot of claim 1 wherein the lower edge of each of the sidewalls ofsaid ankle cuff pivots back and forth at a predetermined fixed pivotpoint on the upper edge of the sidewalls of said lower boot shell. 3.The boot of claim 2 wherein said fixed pivot point is positioned at thenatural pivot point of said individual''s ankle.
 4. A boot forsupporting the foot and ankle of an individual which comprises: asubstantially rigid lower boot shell having first and second spacedsidewalls each connected to a boot sole; a substantially rigid anklecuff having corresponding first and second sidewalls fixedly connectedtogether in a spaced relationship with a rear connecting wall andpivotally connected to the first and second sidewalls respectively ofsaid lower boot shell such that said individual''s ankle passes throughthe open front portion of said ankle cuff when the boot is placed ontoand removed from said individual''s foot; and an elongated flexiblestrap fixedly connected at one end to one of said sidewalls of saidankle cuff and adjustably connected through an opening in the oppositesidewall of said ankle cuff to said opposite sidewall for securing saidindividual''s ankle within said ankle cuff.
 5. The boot of claim 4wherein the sidewalls of said ankle cuff extend upwardly to a positionproximate the lower calf of the individual''s leg and rear support meansare connected to said sidewalls of said ankle cuff proximate the lowercalf of said individual''s leg for supporting said leg.
 6. The boot ofclaim 4 wherein biasing means are affixed to the rear connecting wall ofsaid ankle cuff and to the heel end of said lower boot shell for urgingsaid ankle cuff to a predetermined position on said lower boot shell. 7.In a boot for supporting the foot and ankle of an individual, includinga lower boot shell having first and second spaced sidewalls and an anklecuff having corresponding first and second sidewalls, the improvementcomprising means including at least one boot flange connected to each ofthe said sidewalls of said lower boot shell and at least one cuff flangeconnected to each of the said sidewalls of the said ankle cuff to matewith one face of the corresponding boot flange, each of the named cuffflanges including a locking end which mates with the face of thecorresponding boot flange opposite the said one face.
 8. The improvementof claim 7, wherein the lower edge of each of the sidewalls of saidankle cuff pivots back and forth at a predetermined fixed point on theupper edge of the corresponding sidewall of said lower boot shell. 9.The boot of claim 8 wherein said fixed pivot point is positioned at thenatural pivot point of said individual''s ankle.